Retractable anchor



Jul 19, 1949. ALVIK E A 2,476,348

RETRACTIBLE ANCHOR I Filed Nov. 6, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4a W AP z 47 Q g 47 V E Inventors 50 46 Harold A/wk J 50 George 5, DeHuff July 19, 1949. H. ALVIK ET AL RETRACTIBLE' ANCHOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6, 1947 2 5 4 z zz we w a a 4 v 9 4 a 41 4 a whiz-Ill will!!! Iii I a 7!!!! If flllf/li! flillll!!! ,IIIIIIII Harald A/w'k Geowge 5. DeHuff HVVENIURS' I 711 "llllifillr.

Patented July 19, 1949 TED ..s PATZEEN ore-ice Harold Alvik and ;George De Hufi, -Los Angeles, Calif. V

hp licationwovemlier 6, 1947, seria1 No."784379 liClaims. (c1. Ill -208) 1 invention i late's to anchors, and more particularly to a-re'tractihle or olis'engaging ane'hor. I he object -of the iniiention is "-to provide a novel, simple and po'sitively acting anchor having 's'wingahle or i'oldable fhikes adapted to be locked in their grefiblingpesition an'd also, adapted to be tripped cr r'eleas'ed fror'n such position as 60- readily lose theib-anchorihg hold when it is desired t'o hoist the -*anchei-'.

Asmos't bodies 'of water have a muddy bottom with a'll kindsmftr ash, wire-meets, rocks, weeds,

tree trunks, seaweed ando for'th that make it difficult attim'es and almost impossible to weigh or pull in th'e anchor after it has become imbedtied, the object "of the zpre'sent :invention is to provide an ancho'r having :means -for 'holdin'g the fl-ukes thereof in anch'oring "or operating position*and' at the same 'time, to permit conv'enient tripping or release of' the flukes, so that they will pull down when the anchor r'ope or chain is pulled, streamlining the *device so that it way be readily released fromanchoring position ordisengaged, and spulle'd aboard a boat.

Another'objectof the invention is ito provide a novel =releasable holding =means for the "nukes when in engagingspositiontorigive aegrappling' or holding'acti'on, while at the same time,jpermitting convenient release thereof to allow the fiukes to swing down into astreamlinetiiposition to release the hold thereof -"so as to :permit the anchor to be readily"weighedorrpulled "in, andyet avoid accidental =re1ease f the trip and fiukes held thereby 'except when the rope or chain is 'pulled in a zposition "between an angle of 30 and 90 deagrees -from th'e normal :aXis orlen'gthwise dimen- "Hereinafter described-arid clainied, reference beingha'd to theaecompaiiy ing drawings forming p'art 'hre'o'f,' wherin lilie numeral-s "refer to like fiarts thrbiighdlitfiand in 'whi'ch:

Figure 1 is a side elevation-of a -'1"etra'ctible= anhONcGnstruted in-"aeordance w'i-th the invention. f

Fig ureQ is a e'ritfal ifeitieal -longitiidinal sec- 2 tional view thereof showing the' flukes swung down in lposition to'release the anchor.

Figure 3 is'a view similar to Figure 2, but-showing the flukes in a sgrappling position.

Figure 4 15a sectional 'view taken on the line 4-4 of 'Figure fl, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentaryside elevation taken in the direction of the line 5-5 of Figure -1.

Referring to the drawings 'in detail,-the anchor is shown as comprising abody, stock or shank including a tubular body in the upper :end of which is received a collar or 'sleeve ll which is relatively-long and is provided "withareduced portion on which the end'of ithe tubular body may be welded as-indicated-atadjacent to an annularflange l3 form'ed by recessing'the collar ll therebeneath. 'I-hecollar isdesigned-to turn on a swivel block 14 having-spaced ears --l 5 produced bythe forked upperend of the swivel block in which an arm I G is pivotedat H,- the :armhaving ahead la with -a =cam formation --providing opposite projections 19 with inclined surfaces 20 extending from the arm and a rounded'bottom portion 2| with flat'surfaces 22 extending to the roundedzprojections [-9 at the sides, all-of the surfaces 20 and "22; being "fiat and permitting actuation lay-swinging the :arm in opposite directions. The arm'mayhavean eye 23-=at its free end, for attachment of a chain or'cable. The swivel block 14 has'anannularfiange m at the top and a reduced-sleeve portion 25 :forming'a bottom shoulder which fits against the upper end of the collar H so "that'the two may turn relatively, while'attachment and-retention of the sleeve 25 in the collar l'lo'r the-latter on the former, after the parts areassembled, so as to prevent withdrawal- 0f the swivel block, is l'provided by means ofan -annular nut or col-larin-th'e form of a ring26 threaded onthelowerendof the sleeve 25'againstthe lower endof the collar ll. By'thismeans, theswivel blockand arm ltca'n make'a three hundred-sixty degree turn with respect to the bodyg'sufficient clearance being provided'between'the sleeve 25and the collar H to permit 'free turning'while -.pr'even'ting the sleeve from being "withdrawn.

The sleeve'25isi'provided with a centralbore 21 axially thereoflto 'receivea plunger 28 which is provided between its "ends with an annular fiang'e'ZS movable within'the -tubular'bodyl0 and having "its lower end-externally threaded for en gagement with aninternally threaded socket centrally or axially' in the"-upper erid of an enlargeme'nt fll provided on tne-pmngeror formed integr-altherewith though shown with the threaded are locked in the up position for grappling or holding the anchor, as indicated in Figure 3 and th flukes are provided with flat blades or hooks 51 to obtain a good hold or purchase at the bottom of the body of water or stream. When the flukes are thus held ,in service position and locked out, the arm I6 is held on an angle of approximately thirty degrees from the axial center or may extend upwardly in line with the axis as indicated in Figures 1 and 3, or thirty degrees at either side of the center by contact of the beneath the collar 33. The upper arms of the levers 35 are shorter than the lower arms and the longer arms are provided with bevelled catches 39 which extend through openings 40 in the tubular body 10 at diametrically opposite points heneath the openings 38 and the enlargement orhead 33-. The lower ends of the levers or longer arms thereof are also directed inwardly to form catches 4! adapted to extend through openings 42 in the tubular body l0 below the openings 40 to engage notches or an annular groove 43 in a plunger 44 spaced from head 30 and movable in the lower portion of the tubular body 10. The lower end of the enlargement or head 30 is provided with a wedge-shaped point or tapered end 45 adapted to engage the bevelled upper edges of the catches or locking dogs 39 so that when the levers are engaged withthe plunger 44 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings and the plunger 28 is forced downwardly, the bevelled end or wedge-shaped point 45 will engage the projections 39 and release the lower ends 4! of the levers from the groove 43 of the plunger 44 when the arm 16 is pulled at right angles. Diametrically opposite points of the plunger 44 are provided with rack teeth 46 to engage pinions 4'! on the enlarged pivoted ends of flukes 43 pivoted at 49 between bifurcations or jaws 50 provided on the lower end of the tubular body [0, so that when the plunger 44 moves downwardly, the flukes 48 will be swung upwardly against the tubular body in the manner shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. This action is caused by swinging the arm It at right angles from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 2, causing the projections 19 between fiat surfaces 22 and to force the plunger 28 downwardly against the spring 32 while permitting the arm IE to turn in an arc of three hundred sixty degrees. When the projections 39 are released from the groove 43, the anchor drops down over the plunger 44 or the latter rides upwardly in the tubular body [0 so as to swing the flukes 4B downwardly as shown in Figure 2, to an extended retractible or releasing position whereby the flukes are disengaged from their anchor hold. Thus, more certainty of the anchor holding under extreme conditions, with greater strength and no chance of tripping the latches, is possible, unless the anchor rope or chain is pulled at nearly right angles to the body of the anchor thus pulling the arm 16 until the cam l8 contacts with the plunger 23 at its upper projecting end as seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, moving the locking block formed by the head or enlargement 38 to release the projections 39 from the groove 43 and permitting the adjacent end of the locking block, head or enlargement 3D, to move in further spaced relation with respect to the adjacent or upper end of the plunger 44 and releasing the latter from the ends 4! by swinging the lower ends and longer arms of the levers 35 outwardly on the pivots 36 by the cam action thus provided. However, when the ends 4| engage the groove 43, the flukes its use.

plunger 28 and the pressure caused by the spring 32 against the flat sides 22 of the cam 18, thus holding the arm 16 always in position or so that it can be turned to a position for the pull which will release the flukes and free the anchor by pulling at nearly right angles to the body of the anchor to release the flukes so that they can drop down to a streamlined position as indicated in Figure 2.

In order to release or disengage the anchor and permit the latter to move to its disengaging or retractible position, the boat is pulled as by means of the anchor rope or chain or is propelled to a position over or to one side at nearly right angles to the body of the anchor and given a hard pull, so as to release the levers 35 and the plunger 44 to permit the flukes to drop down into releasing position. Otherwise, the flukes will be held in anchoring or grappling position and will not be released except in the manner stated, thereby positively holding the anchor in engaging or anchoring position except when it is desired to release the same and weigh or pull in the anchor after it has become imbedded. In other words, the locking block, enlargement or head 30, normally holds the plunger 44 down but when the levers 35 are disengaged by pull on the arm l6 through the medium of the cam l8 and plunger 28 against the action of the spring 32, at projections 39, this causes or permits the plunger 44 to move upwardly by the leverage of the anchor flukes or hooks and weightthereof when a pull is exerted on the whole anchor shank T or body and as the rack plunger moves up, the

anchor flukes or hooks move downv and with continued pulling on the anchor rope or chain, straighten out to release them from anything that they may have become imbedded in or with. Of course, any number of flukes or hooks may be provided, four being shown in the drawings, but it is obvious that three or more may be used as may be found practical and necessary in the particular anchor in question, depending upon Otherwise, when the anchor is set, in anchoring or grappling position, no amount of pull on the anchor rope or chain will disengage the anchor by releasing the rack plunger and permitting the flukes or hooks to drop unless it is .pulled at almost a right angle with the anchor body length while the anchor is imbedded or between thirty and ninety degrees, thus providing a positive anchor but one which may be readily released to move to a folded, disengaged or retractible position'when desired.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A retractible anchor comprising an anchor body, a plunger movable in the body and normally held in projecting position, a locking block formed at the lower end of the plunger, levers engaged above the block and beneath the same, a rack plunger in the body also engaged by the levers, and flukes operatively connected to the rack body to swing downwardly when the rack body is released, downward movement of the block causing release of the levers from the rack plunger.

2. A retractible anchor, comprising an anchor body, a plunger movable in the body and normally held in projecting position, a locking block formed at the lower end of the plunger, levers engaged above the block and beneath the same, a rack plunger in the body also engaged by the levers, and fiukes operatively connected to the rack body to swing downwardly when the rack body is released, downward movement of the block causing release of the levers from the rack plunger, said rack body being held by the levers by upward swing of the flukes.

3. A retractible anchor, comprising an anchor body, a plunger movable in the body and normally held in projecting position, a locking block formed at the lower end of the plunger, levers engaged above the block and beneath the same, a rack plunger in the body also engaged by the levers, and fiukes operatively connected to the rack body to swing downwardly when the rack body is released, and an arm having a calm member cooperating with the plunger for the purpose of releasing the levers by pressure on the plunger.

4. A retractible anchor, comprising an anchor body, a plunger movable in the body and springheld in projecting position, a locking block formed at the lower end of the plunger, levers engaged above the block and beneath the same, a rack plunger in the body also engaged by the ,levers, and flukes operatively connected to the rack body to swing downwardly when the rack body is released, said rack body being held by the levers by upward swing of the flukes, and an arm adapted for connection with an anchor cable or chain having a cam thereon adapted to engage the plunger first mentioned to force the latter downwardly against the action of the spring to release the levers, engagement of the cam with the plunger permitting upward movement of the rack plunger.

5. A retractible anchor comprising a tubular body, a collar in the body, a sleeve retained in the collar and swivelled therein, an arm pivoted on the sleeve and having caunming surfaces, a plunger axially movable in the sleeve, spring means in the tubular body acting against the plunger to hold the latter projected for engagement by the calm, locking levers pivoted on the tubular body and operating through openings therein, said plunger having a locking head with a tapered end to engage projections of the levers to release the latter, a rack plunger movable in the tubular body IbGIOW the locking head, and fiukes pivorted on the tubular body and having pinions in engagement with the rack plunger to swing downwardly from grappling position to release position upon release of the levers and upward movement of the rack plunger with respect to the tubular body.

6. A retraoti ble anchor comprising a tubular body having a plurality of diametrically opposed openings therein in spaced relation longitudinally of the body, a swivel block mounted to turn in an angle of 360 degrees in one end of the tubular body and retained from displacement relative thereto, said swivel block having spaced apertured ears, an arm having means for connection with an anchor cable or rope and having a cam end with opposite rounded projections and flat surfaces, pivoted between the ears of the swivel block and adapted to swing from a position in line with the block axially to a position at right angles thereto, a plunger movable axially through the swivel block and having an annular flange within the tubular body, a spring held in the body and acting against the flange to project the plunger, an enlarged locking head on the lower end of the plunger and having a tapered end and normally held up by the spring with the plunger, levers pivoted upon opposite sides of the tubular body and having projections at its ends and intermediately to engage the head and to enter the open ings of the tubular body, a rack plunger in the lower portion of the tubular body separated from the locking head Olf Ithe first plunger and having a groove to receive the projections of the levers at their lower ends to hold the rack plunger down, flukes pivoted to the sides of the body and having pinions engageable with the teeth of the rack plunger to hold the fiukes upwardly or outwardly in anchoring position and adapted upon release of the lower projections of the levers from the groove to permit the rack plunger to move upwardly and cause the flukes to swing downwardly in streamline position along the direction of the sides of the tubular body upon swinging the arm to cause its cam surfaces to engage the first plunger at one side of the cam or the other, to release the flukes from grappling or holding position whereby the anchor may be weighed or pulled in by release from ts i'mbedded holding position.

HAROLD ALVIK. GEORGE S. DE HUFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following referemces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

